Discover why you need an Internet Firewall for your PC security
Without firewall protection, every minute that your computer is connected to the Internet, through a dial-up (modem) connection or a broadband (DSL or cable) service, it is potentially vulnerable and at risk.
If you use a dial-up modem the level of risk will depend on how long a day your are connected. However in the case of always-on broadband your PC is at continual risk.
Without a firewall or personal firewall software, your computer is operating under an "open door" policy. Bank account information, Passwords, credit card numbers are all at risk.
Information about hacking is freely available on the internet. Hackers can get in, take what they want, and even leave open a "back door" so they can turn your computer into a "zombie" and use it to attack other computers.
Computer firewall protection should be a vital part of your computer internet security defenses.
Not so long ago firewalls were
only available as expensive pieces of hardware that required extensive setting
up. However personal firewall software, such as ZoneAlarm
Pro
is now available that is not expensive
and is easy to use, taking only take a minute or two to install and setup.
What if I already have anti-virus software ?
Antivirus software comes installed on most new PCs, and most people think that it protects them completely from Internet-borne threats. This is only partly true, as virus protection is only as good as the latest virus definitions, which are created in response to the latest viruses.
However anti virus computer security software does nothing to secure your computer against direct hacker attacks via an open internet connection. Also worms such as the recent Blaster now attack PCs directly by mimicking the action of hackers.
So what exactly is a software firewall ?
A software firewall is a piece of computer internet software that monitors all incoming network traffic and allows in only the connections that are known and trusted.
Your internet connection actually consist of a series of "ports".
There are a number of standard port numbers for the most popular web uses, e.g. port 80 is open so that you can browse web pages; port 1863 allows you to engage in instant messaging with friends; port 443 gives access to secure web pages used by online merchants to encrypt purchases.
You could manually grant or restrict access to each of the 65,535 ports available under the Internet Protocol. Every time you add a new program that requires Internet access, you would need to determine which port(s) it uses, and reconfigure your computer accordingly.
You've probably got better ways to spend your time.
Firewall software takes on this burden for you, allowing access to the ports you need open, and closing off those you don't. It also makes your computer "invisible" on the Internet; if hackers can't find you, they will have a hard time attacking you.
However hackers can find out about you by arriving via a legitimate route such as being hidden in email as an attachments.
More advanced firewall software also monitors outgoing traffic. This is crucial since malicious code spreads by accessing the Internet and pushing copies of itself to other computers defined in your address book (often those of your friends and family !). Outbound protection can keep even brand-new Trojan horses and spyware from doing their damaging work. The ultimate protection is program-level control, so that only those applications that you trust are allowed to access the Internet.
Note: Freeware products, of dubious heritage, used to share MP3 files often have spyware bundled in with them. Currently these have all been used to relay back pure marketing information, but that might not always be the case.
Zone Alarm firewall software - A proven solution
Zone Labs have been around since 1997 and have won some of the industry's most coveted awards for internet security software.
Recent Industry Awards
Zone Labs offers a complete range of firewall security products, from the free firewall ZoneAlarm for a individual home PC or a home network, to the comprehensive protection of ZoneAlarm Plus, to the ultimate privacy and security tools in ZoneAlarm Pro 4.0.
Zone Alarm Pro 4 Features include:
Protect your computer and your privacy from hackers and prying eyes.
Use Zone Alarm Pro Plus, eliminate annoying pop-ups, and keep cookies under control.
Zone Alarm Pro
4 download
Use the above link and save $10
(You can buy for a special discount price of $39.95
instead of the normal $49.95)
Unfortunately there is not a Zone Alarm for Mac version currently available, so Mac users wanting an Internet firewall may wish to consider to consider Norton Internet Security 2.0 by Symantec.
Amazon.com provides a range of other Windows Personal Firewalls
How to be super safe
If you run or want to run a small office of home network then running ZoneAlarm firewall software is an extra line of defense and you should also have a hardware firewall at the point of connection to the Internet.
This has always been prudent, but if you now have a broadband connection to the internet, which is always on, such as ADSL or cable, it is particularly important.
There are a wide range of hardware devices available that combine a modem/router/switch/firewall in one box.
For details of routers and network hardware from Amazon.com see
Browse in:Use Zone Alarm Pro Plus, eliminate annoying pop-ups, and keep cookies under control.
Find
out more / download ZoneAlarm Pro 4.0
Use the above link and save $10
(You can buy for a special discount price of $39.95
instead of the normal $49.95)